The minds of people contain the darkest parts of themselves. Even the kindest person harbors something unsettling deep within—ugliness, hatred, bitterness, or thoughts they would never dare speak aloud. That's why Dante doesn't use his mind-reading ability casually. He only does so when absolutely necessary.
He's seen too much. Heard too much.
Over the years, trying to understand others brought him nothing but trauma. He had to face countless ugly truths, unwillingly absorbing secrets no one should ever know. The truth is, people are flawed in ways that can't always be fixed. Some traits—jealousy, pettiness, cruelty—are simply part of human nature.
Eventually, Dante learned to accept people as they were. He stopped hoping to find anyone truly pure. Instead, he began filtering out the noise—the hatred, the lies, the things that made him sick inside. But the only way to truly silence it all… was to isolate himself.
Over time, solitude became his peace.
But everything changed when Dante met someone he couldn't read. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone's mind was completely closed off to him.
That moment changed his life.
For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of something he thought he'd lost—a desire to connect, to belong. And when he learned there was an entire world of people like that—people whose thoughts he couldn't hear—it awakened something else.
Hope.
Maybe, just maybe… he could live among others again. Maybe his life wouldn't have to return to that cold, silent isolation. Maybe something new, something thrilling, awaited him.
Dante woke up in a white room. It looked like a hospital.
He was lying on a wheeled bed used for transportation. The light overhead buzzed softly. It felt like ages had passed since he last remembered anything, though he had no memory of what had happened during that time.
Is this it? Am I… safe now?
He sat up slowly, his muscles stiff. He stood, stretched, and did a few light exercises to shake off the fog in his body. As he moved around the room, he noticed a flat TV screen mounted on the wall. Spotting the remote on a side table, he picked it up and turned the TV on.
A small, holographic pixie-like figure appeared on the screen, speaking in a cheerful, informative voice.
"Welcome to the New World! This is the land of the Awakened—also known as Artificers!"
The pixie twirled in the air as diagrams and maps appeared beside her.
"The New World is a continent located in the vast world of Velgrath. Velgrath consists of multiple distinct regions: the Old World, the Wild Frontier, the Ocean Planet, and of course, the New World itself."
"You are currently located in the Arcantheon Republic, the most powerful human empire in the New World. It is a democratic empire, though it still maintains a traditional hierarchy and noble class."
"Within Arcantheon's borders are many colonies and sub-kingdoms, all working together under one banner."
Oh wow. So I just got born into New Rome, huh?
The pixie continued, "As a newly transported individual, you are now officially a citizen of the Arcantheon. Congratulations! All new citizens receive a full scholarship to study at an Artificers Battle Academy, where you'll learn the skills necessary to thrive in this world."
Artificers Battle Academy, huh? Sounds like that's where everything important starts. Ugh, I'm so tired after that whole cave incident… whatever that was.
"And finally, welcome to Tessarune City!"
Oh, that's it? Dante thought. Maybe I'm still too shaken. I just walked through death a moment ago… maybe that's why none of this feels real yet.
Then he remembered what that man—Father Marius—had said: Dante was one of the people lost during the transportation from Eden to Arcantheon. Luckily, he had been found. A heresy cult calling themselves the The Veil of Rot had tried to sabotage the transportation system for their own ends, but ended up causing a massive incident.
That was how Dante ended up trapped in a cave. After being rescued, he was sent back here—to the Tessarune City hospital.
"The Veil of Rot or what ever it is"... I'll remember that name. One day, I'll make them pay.
For now, he just needed to figure out what to do next. The pixie had said he could study at the Artificers Battle Academy.
That seemed like a good place to begin.
He changed into a set of provided clothes and stepped outside the room. A sleek black band had been placed on his wrist while he slept. As he moved, the band played a soft voice in his ear, guiding him to his next destination.
He walked into a large, chrome elevator, empty-handed.
Yeah, that checks out. I came here with nothing.
As the elevator began to rise, a strange unease crept in.
Why does it feel so empty? Where is everyone?
The elevator reached its destination and opened. Beyond the doors stretched a wide granite path flanked by more elevator doors. He followed the path upward. After a short walk, sunlight poured through an archway.
He stepped into a stunning town of white brick houses—each structure gleaming, elegant, and almost competing in beauty with its neighbors. The smooth bricks were stacked perfectly, like they'd been sculpted by master artisans. The sight was breathtaking.
But not a single soul was in sight.
Am I… in a ghost town? Did I just walk into a dead zone?
Fortunately, he spotted a bus stop nearby and approached it. After a short wait, an automated bus arrived and opened its doors. Dante boarded, noting the complete lack of a driver.
Alright, now this is creepy. Why is it so desolate here?
The bus drove him through the town and eventually dropped him off at a student dormitory made entirely of brick—no concrete, no steel—just old-world charm.
If not for the elevator and the bus, I'd swear I time-traveled.
At last, he saw people. Students walked around the dormitory grounds, chatting, laughing, carrying books and suitcases.
He finally wasn't alone.
These were his peers—the students of the Artificers Battle Academy.
He overheard someone mention that the new semester would begin in three weeks.
Well, I guess I'll just have to wait here for a while, Dante thought, looking forward to that day.
A new beginning.
A world of Artificers awaited—people capable of reshaping reality, building massive structures, mastering elements, and forming the very order of the New World.
What kind of people are they? What will they teach me? What can I become?
He was excited.